- Incident to be reviewed by National Basketball League
An ugly courtside explosion has rocked the NBL after one of Australia’s most decorated basketball coaches was caught on microphone unleashing an x-rated tirade at a rival player during a fiery showdown in Melbourne.
Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian – a Boomers mentor and multiple-time championship winner – erupted in extraordinary scenes during his side’s 114-88 demolition of South East Melbourne Phoenix at John Cain Arena on Sunday.
With tensions boiling over late in the second quarter, Goorjian was heard screaming at Phoenix young gun Owen Foxwell: ‘I’m not talking to you, b**. I’m not talking to you. F*** you. F*** you.’**
The stunning outburst, captured clearly on broadcast microphones, resulted in an immediate technical foul for the veteran coach as a packed arena watched in disbelief.
The flashpoint came after a heated sequence involving Kings star Kendric Davis, who had already ignited the home crowd with a series of physical exchanges.
Foxwell and Davis became entangled near the three-point line, with the Phoenix guard falling to the floor and appealing for a kick.
Goorjian lost his temper during the Sydney Kings fiery win over South-East Melbourne in the NBL
The Australian Boomers coach repeatedly swore at opposition player Owen Foxwell, who has represented the Boomers
Goorjian is the current head coach of the Australian side that will head into the LA Olympics
Phoenix coach Josh King was heard shouting, ‘He kicked him, I saw it,’ as chants of ‘kick him out’ echoed around the arena.
Moments later, Davis clashed chest-to-chest with Nathan Sobey following a hard foul, sparking more pushing and shoving before teammates intervened. Both players were hit with technical fouls.
But it was Goorjian’s reaction from the sideline that stole headlines.
Speaking post-game, a furious King did not hold back.
‘It’s very disappointing … a guy that everybody looks up to in this league,’ he said.
‘Coach Goorjian telling one of our players ‘f you’ three times in a row is just uncalled for.’
King doubled down, adding: ‘It’s really surprising for a guy that’s done everything he’s done in his career to think it’s OK to tell an opposing player ‘f you’ three times … that’s very disappointing and it’s not right.’
He later referenced Foxwell’s standing in Australian basketball, saying the young guard is ‘a Boomer and he’s one of the best young Australian players’.
Opposition coach Josh King said the incident was disappointing for a man of Goorjian’s standing in the sport
‘Foxy’s a kid and this guy’s won more games than anybody in Australia … I always think we should be the adults,’ he added.
Goorjian, however, refused to back down.
The 40-year coaching veteran insisted he was responding to comments directed at him first.
‘If something’s said to you, I’m going to say something back,’ he said bluntly.
‘If they want to give me a technical, they can give me a technical, but he tells me what he said, I’m coming right back at him.’
He denied initiating the confrontation.
‘I don’t just go at a player. I went there and he said something and I went right back at him,’ Goorjian said.
‘I’ve been in it 40 years, I don’t just start calling guys names.’
While the sideline drama threatened to derail the contest, Davis ensured the Kings’ statement was made on the scoreboard.
The American guard delivered an MVP-calibre masterclass with 30 points, nine assists, four rebounds and two steals, shrugging off relentless boos from the Phoenix faithful.
By half-time, the temperature inside the arena was near boiling point. By full-time, the Kings had blown the game apart.
Davis was unfazed by the chaos.
‘We knew what was at stake. We made a statement today,’ he said post-match.
He then offered a glowing endorsement of the very coach at the centre of the storm.
‘Great coaching. Goorj for coach of the year.’